Winter Haven Woman Doused in Gas, Assaulted

Police have arrested a 48-year-old man who they say poured gasoline on his girlfriend, threatened to burn her and her son, and then knowingly exposed her to HIV.

By STEPHANIE ALLENTHE LEDGER

WINTER HAVEN | Police have arrested a 48-year-old man who they say poured gasoline on his girlfriend, threatened to burn her and her son, and then knowingly exposed her to HIV. Glen Davis of Winter Haven is facing two counts of first-degree arson, two counts of domestic violence sexual battery, two counts of domestic violence aggravated battery and criminal transmission of HIV after the Saturday incident, according to Winter Haven police. Davis and his girlfriend, who is not being named because of the sexual battery charges, were dating for a few months and, according to his arrest report, shared a home together with the woman's teenage son. On Thursday, Davis tried to keep the woman and her son from leaving the house by threatening to light the pair on fire, an arrest report states. Davis and his girlfriend argued Halloween night over whether she had cheated on him, the report states. The argument escalated when Davis grabbed his girlfriend by the neck and poured gasoline on her, according to the report.He then threatened the woman and her son with a pair of gardening shears, poured gasoline on the kitchen table and a pile of clothing, and lit the table and clothes on fire, the report stated. Davis' girlfriend was interviewed Monday by The Ledger's partner, Bay News 9. She spoke of a terrifying scene."I seen my life flash before my eyes right there," she told Bay News 9. "The house filled up with smoke. Fire and smoke and we couldn't get out."The woman and her son feared Davis would try to kill them and were forced to stay the night at the house, the report stated.Later that night, Davis went into his girlfriend's bedroom demanding to have sex with her, the report stated. His girlfriend refused, but Davis forced her to have sex without protection."He put the scissors to my throat and made me have sex with him," the woman told Bay News 9.According to the report, Davis told police he has been receiving treatment for HIV since 2008 or 2009. His girlfriend was aware of his diagnosis, but the couple always used protection, the report stated. She told Bay News 9 that he knowingly intended to infect her."He said, 'You're gonna die one way or another,' " she told Bay News 9.Police learned of the incident on Saturday after going to the house for a disturbance call. Officers found a pile of burned clothing, a gasoline can and the charred table inside the house.The woman went to the Winter Haven Hospital later that evening to begin treatment for HIV exposure, but no other injuries were reported, according to police. Davis's latest charges are added to a long list of previous charges and prison sentences.Davis, who also uses the alias Gordon Davis, has been in and out of prison nine times, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. He was released from state prison in January after serving more than four years for such charges as aggravated assault with a weapon and resisting arrest with violence. Court records show he has multiple previous domestic violence cases. All eight of Davis' current charges are felonies.He is being held in the Polk County Jail in lieu of $70,000 bond.

[ Stephanie Allen can be reached at stephanie.allen@theledger. ]

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